Red Bull’s Max Verstappen says a minor energy-saving rule change for qualifying will only help ‘a tiny bit’ as he struggles with the new 2026 regulations.
MAX Verstappen offered a lukewarm assessment of a last-minute rule change ahead of Japanese Grand Prix qualifying. The Red Bull driver said the tweak would help only “a tiny bit, but the basics are the same”.
Formula One’s governing body, the FIA, adjusted energy-saving rules for qualifying. Drivers must now save less energy, allowing them to push harder over an entire lap.
The minor change follows criticism of sweeping new 2026 regulations. These require complex battery management and a 50-50 split between conventional and electrical power.
Verstappen has been openly critical of the new rules this season. He struggled in the opening races and failed to finish the Chinese Grand Prix.
The four-time world champion is chasing a fifth straight victory at the Suzuka circuit. He admitted the 2026 season “feels very different to last year”.
“This is the reality that we’re in now and you just have to accept that at the moment,” said Verstappen. He added there is little teams can do for the rest of this season.
The Dutchman expressed hope for more significant changes next year. The specific tweak reduces the energy drivers must harvest in a qualifying lap from nine to eight megajoules.
This rule adjustment does not apply to Sunday’s race. “Going to eight megajoules probably helps a tiny bit but the basics are the same, so you still need to be careful also with your throttle inputs,” Verstappen explained.
He noted this cautious driving style is “very different to the past”. Verstappen currently sits eighth in the championship standings after two races.
He trails championship leader George Russell of Mercedes by 43 points. Verstappen recently took a break from F1 by competing in a four-hour race in Germany.